Expert Centre for Chronic Fatigue, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Int J Behav Med. 2013 Jun;20(2):213-8. doi: 10.1007/s12529-012-9253-2.
In patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), performance of physical activities may be affected by an anticipated increase in symptoms after these activities. Nijs et al. previously studied the influence of symptom expectancies and related psychological processes on the performance of an isolated physical activity [Nijs J, Meeus M, Heins M, Knoop H, Moorkens G, Bleijenberg G. Kinesiophobia, catastrophizing and anticipated symptoms before stair climbing in chronic fatigue syndrome: an experimental study. Disabil Rehabil 2012. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2011.641661 .].
We aimed to validate the previous findings in a larger group of patients in a different setting. We also extended the possible underlying psychological processes studied.
In 49 CFS patients, we measured performance (duration and increase in heart rate) during self-paced climbing and descending of two floors of stairs. Before this task, patients rated experienced fatigue and anticipated fatigue after stair climbing. In addition, kinesiophobia, catastrophising and focusing on bodily symptoms were measured. Using correlational and regression analyses, we tested whether performance during stair climbing could be explained by experienced and anticipated fatigue and psychological factors.
Longer duration of stair climbing correlated with higher anticipated fatigue, independently of sex, age, body mass index and fatigue before stair climbing. Focusing on bodily symptoms and fatigue-related catastrophising were related to anticipated fatigue.
Symptom expectations affect the performance of physical activity in CFS patients, possibly through focusing on bodily symptoms and catastrophising. These findings partially contradict the findings of the previous study, which stresses the importance of study context in conducting this type of experiments (i.e., patient characteristics, instructions).
在慢性疲劳综合征（CFS）患者中，体力活动的表现可能会受到活动后预期症状增加的影响。Nijs 等人之前研究了症状预期和相关心理过程对孤立体力活动表现的影响[1]。
我们旨在在不同环境下的更大患者群体中验证先前的发现，并扩展研究可能存在的潜在心理过程。
在 49 名 CFS 患者中，我们测量了自行 paced 上下两层楼梯时的表现（持续时间和心率增加）。在进行此任务之前，患者评估了上下楼梯后的疲劳感和预期疲劳感。此外，还测量了运动恐惧、灾难化和对身体症状的关注。我们使用相关和回归分析，测试在上下楼梯时的表现是否可以通过体验和预期疲劳以及心理因素来解释。
上下楼梯的持续时间与更高的预期疲劳有关，与性别、年龄、体重指数和上下楼梯前的疲劳无关。对身体症状的关注和与疲劳相关的灾难化与预期疲劳有关。
症状预期会影响 CFS 患者的体力活动表现，可能是通过对身体症状和灾难化的关注。这些发现部分与之前研究的结果相矛盾，这强调了在进行此类实验时研究背景的重要性（即患者特征、指导语）。
